The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-10-29

eOOuy, against WOICn the vision DeaG
itself vainly. Suddenly, from out the
biackness, two rockets rose together,
and divergtng as they ascended, like
thin skeleton arms, they stretched
| over the island, their explosion send-
ing out long attenuated fingers OF light,
as Nappealtng for help or giving a be-
uediction. IF
Some exclaimed they could see lights
others excitedly declared they could
distinguish a large ship driving In. A
flash of lightning showed small
schooner pounding on the reef outside.
There was wild shout when the
CHASTITY white sail, torn to ribbons,
was discerned, and the pleasure seekers
| rowed to the island, the little harbor
being still quite smooth. They were
without means to succor, however, and
could only look for such swimmers as
might make for land. 1t was not
long before the masts went by the
board aud tho wreck commenced to
break up. The young fisherman dis.
tributed themselves along the beach,
ready to render assistance to those that
might reach the surf. After half an
hours waiting in the sttngiug rain.
without anything coming ashore, they
were about returning to their lan,.-
locked vessels when one of the
party, Theophile Lasrere, deserted,
riding on the huge billows AS lightly
as cork, what appeared to be tub.
Each flash Of lighting showed that 1t
was approaching the shores fast.
TheophiIe, tying rope about his
body, stood ready 10 rush into the
surf when it should reach II. It was
not long before he saw 1t mount on u
high roller that threatened to swamp
It. He dashed in, seized it, and al~
though lifted high upon the sands he
chung to the object with the tenacity
Of life itself, and saved it from being
washed back.
1t was an culinary deck tab, such as
are seen around the decks Of sailing
vessels, but 1t was covered with Il
piece OF canvas which had been tightly
fastened like drum head over its top.
While the eager crowd was looking
with curiosity ut this bit of floatsam
from the wreck ono of the party cut
open the canvas top, and to their as
t0nishment, resting on q soft blanket
was a babe about tree months old. A
cry Of surprise broke from the now exc
cited excursionists.
Day was beginning TO dawn, and a
leaden light rested upon the surginG
! waters off 10 the eastward. Every eye
was directed to the wreck. Only tho
! bowsprit remained visible. The crew
aud passengers, If passengers there
were, had perished. Theophile La
trere was the first to speak. lie beck,
! oned them all to come near, and in a
,.>Sr 1,r hoo rA S,&S
tumult of waves, he said: "Les Iois-
sous Rogues have now duty given to
them. We came here for pleasure, and
Providence has given us tho greatest
prize Of earth-a life. Shall we adopt
this little one"
The idea was novel to these youug
gallants, and there was connected with
it a sort Of distributed parental respon-
sibility which was exceedingly natter-
ing to each OF them. The result of it
all was that tho little one was taken on
board one Of the fleet, tho fishing for
gotten, and the expedition early on the
morning after tho storm started for
New Orleans. Reaching here, the in-
fant was put in charge OF a competent
nurse and regular monthly meetings of
its fathers took place, ut which its fu-
ture was earnestly discussed. Constant
inquiry had failed to discover even the
name Of tho schooner, and there re-
,uained no clew to identify the little
one save the blanket in which II was
sleeping when dashed on the sand. In
one corner Of this, exquisitely embroid-
cred, was the word "Deiice." Adver-
tisemont was made In the papers, unx-
ious investigation made everywhere,
but the schooner and her crew were
never known in the old Crescent City.
II ever there was a little girl that
had everything heart could wish for,
Deiice was tho girl. When she was
year old she possessed thirteen ratties,
six atiigator's teeth set in silver, five
coral necklaces, have dozen little gold
shawl pins, four swinging cradles, Il
beautiful alter at the end Of her little
room, with Madonna looking down
upon her bed. Over the mantlepiece,
gloomy IN its depth OF shadow, was
an oil painting from one OF DeIice's
new fathers, representing the wave-
whipped beach Of the ChandeIeurs,
with q wreck going TO pieces half a
mile of shore and tub rising on the
crest Of great sea.
II was not little amusing to see
how jealous Of feminine attentions TO
their charge these Poissons Rouges
! were. They told their sisters and
! mothers that the little one was well
| cared for and needed none OF their
| time. The old nurse, they said, was
experienced, ard they themselves